First African American Recruited to Play Basketball (1968)

Ed Leftwich (pictured left)[1]was the first African-American to be recruited to the basketball team, and the first to receive a scholarship as a freshman. Although Al Heartley and William Cooper had been the first to integrate the freshmen team the previous year, Leftwich, from Burlington, North Carolina, was recruited by former coach Norman Sloan and offered a scholarship. He was named second team all ACC in his sopohmore season before subsequently leaving the team.